I made these Chunky Monkey Cupcakes to celebrate the opening day of Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom. This version of the Chunky Monkey Cupcake is so moist and delicious, largely because of the pudding in the cake recipe.

To make this recipe even more mouthwatering, there’s fruit filling! Why not make a batch of Chunky Monkey Cupcakes to snack on this afternoon?

It’s no secret that bananas are good for you. Not only are they packed with potassium to promote heart health, but they’re also a great source of vitamins and fiber, and can help you lose weight while still staying full!

Bananas can also help you manage your blood pressure, so you can have a sweet but healthy snack without loading up on too much sugar or carbs. 

And speaking of healthy snacks, bananas are the perfect treat for your own little monkeys! They’re low on fat, sodium and cholesterol, and help to encourage strong bone and muscle growth.

Bananas are in season all year ‘round and come in a convenient yellow carrying case—what’s not to love?

Chunky Monkey Cupcakes

Chocolate/ Banana Pudding Cupcake Recipe

Makes 12 standard cupcakes

2 C  flour
1 C  cocoa
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2  C granulated  sugar
1  TBSP  vanilla extract
3/4 C vegetable oil
4 eggs (room temp)
1/2  C   milk
1 C sour cream
1  3.4 oz banana cream pudding

Cupcake Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cupcake liners in a cupcake pan.

Add dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. Sift together.

Mix liquid ingredients together. Once the liquid ingredients are fully combined, mix the liquid and dry ingredients together.

Add eggs to the mixture, beating until totally combined.

Pour batter into lined pan until 3/4 full, and bake at 350° degrees for 15-18 minutes.

Let cool for 15-20 minutes. Once completely cool, use a small scooper or spoon and scoop a hole in the center of the cupcake.

Cooked apple recipe:

4 apples of your choice
2 C water
1/2 Sugar

Cooked apple Directions:

Peel, core and chop apples into small pieces. Add water, apples, and sugar to a pot and cook on stove until the apple chunks become tender.

Cool apple mixture in the refrigerator overnight or for several hours. Fill the hole made with the cupcake scooper with the chunky cooked apples.

Frosting Recipe:

1/2 C unsalted sweet cream butter
2 C powdered sugar
3 tsp of imitation banana extract
2 TBSP heavy whipping cream
2 drops yellow food coloring
Caramel for drizzle on top

Frosting Directions:

Mix soft butter with sugar in stand up mixer until they look like small rock pebbles. Add whipping cream and continue to beat at medium speed. Add 2 drops yellow food coloring.

Add in the imitation banana extract. Continue to mix until frosting stands in stiff peaks.

If the peaks aren’t stiff enough, add powdered sugar at 1/2 C  at a time until the peaks form and stand.

Apply the frosting to cupcakes in a pastry bag with tip. (This Wilton pastry bag is the one I use.)

Drizzle with caramel on top.

These Dress My Cupcake Standard Cupcake Wrappers from Amazon are really cute. I also have another recipe for Monkey cupcakes made with adorable little fondant monkeys!

If you’re a Disney fan, check out these 17 Amazing Disney-themed cupcakes!

Monkey Kingdom is one of the Disneynature films. It’s educational and fun, so be sure to see it with the whole family. Learn more by visiting the Monkey Kingdom website.

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